Uh Oh... Did I Just Order The Wrong Nib For The Namiki/pilot Falcon? Namiki Sf Versus Fa

[ptrcao]

I thought the SF nib was the flexible one so I bought the Pilot/Namiki Falcon in this nib it but now I am having doubts... And the order from Japan just shipped!

 

The problem is I can't read Japanese (see attached chart) and in the West the Falcon is marketed as SF (soft fine) to B (broad) - see http://www.namiki.com/pdf/Falcon.pdf.

 

I never new there was a separate nib called "FA" (- what does that even stand for?); I had heard of "FA" before but I thought the SF to B were the size designations and that they were all the FA nib. But I looked closer at the Japanese nib chart and see now there is a separate nib variety called "FA"? Have I just misunderstood something? Does anybody read Japanese or are otherwise able to clarify?

Edited February 14, 2012 by ptrcao

[kernando]

The Namiki and Pilot Falcon pen models have nibs in soft fine and sof medium (and maybe broad too). The falcon nib has cut-out sides and is sold on certain models in the Custom line, 742 and 743 that I can recall. It would be simpler if they used the Elabo model name for the Falcons. Could somebody tell us whether the metal one has a different name? If it's a Falcon you wanted, then you didn't have any more flexible choices. If you really wanted a falcon FA nib, then the Falcon is not the model you need.

 

Getting by without reading characters is easier with Pilot than with Platinum, who often doesn't use letters in nib markings.

[ptrcao]

The Namiki and Pilot Falcon pen models have nibs in soft fine and sof medium (and maybe broad too). The falcon nib has cut-out sides and is sold on certain models in the Custom line, 742 and 743 that I can recall. It would be simpler if they used the Elabo model name for the Falcons. Could somebody tell us whether the metal one has a different name? If it's a Falcon you wanted, then you didn't have any more flexible choices. If you really wanted a falcon FA nib, then the Falcon is not the model you need.

 

Getting by without reading characters is easier with Pilot than with Platinum, who often doesn't use letters in nib markings.

 

But which one is more flexible, the FA or the SF nib? Is the cut out in the FA nib a design feature which makes it more flexible? In the West, I thought when people refer to the flexible Falcon, they are referring to a pen which is mounted with the FA nib? Do you mean to say that the FA nib is not compatible with the Falcon?

Edited February 14, 2012 by ptrcao

[John Cullen]

I think.......

 

There is the Falcon, which is a pen model. The nib is a special nib but it is not the FA nib and it is not available on any other pen.

 

Then there is the Falcon nib, which is a type of nib.

 

I have not tried the soft fine but I just got a soft medium and it is very very smooth with a bit of give to it when you write but I would not say there is serious line variation.

 

If you are looking for serious line variation I think you are looking for the Falcon nib or maybe the Falcon, though if you read all the reviews and discussions of the Falcon nib you might find it is not what you are looking for, as some have said the nib is not really meant for western cursive and can "outwrite" itself and lose ink flow depending on how you write with it.

 

Namiki makes great pens and you can always sell it if you do not like it.

Edited February 14, 2012 by John Cullen

[ptrcao]

There is the Falcon, which is a pen model.

 

There is the Falcon nib, which is a type of nib.

 

I have not tried the soft fine but I just got a soft medium and it is very very smooth with a bit of give to it when you write but I would not say there is serious line variation. If you are looking for serious line variation I think you are looking for the Falcon nib, though if you read all the reviews and discussions on this nib you might find it is not what you are looking for, as some have said the nib is not really meant for western cursive and can "outwrite" itself and lose ink flow depending on how you write with it.

 

Namiki makes great pens and you can always sell it if you do not like it.

 

If

 

Thank you - in a few words you have clarified a lot, John Cullen.

 

So the Falcon nib is not compatible with the Falcon pen? (lol) Why do they have such a counter-intuitive naming?

 

Following your cautionary observations about the FA nib, I would like to see the FA nib in action - I will look for clips on Youtube, or samples on the internet and post them here if I find any good ones.

Edited February 14, 2012 by ptrcao

[John Cullen]

Many people like the FA nib. Some have modified the feed to get a little more flow to keep up with their writing style. I just want to make sure anyone reading this does not think I am saying the nib is bad.

 

But I think you will see what I mean when you read over the reviews. There likely is something on Youtube for each of these items.

 

I think a lot depends on how you write: speed, size, paper, print vs cursive, degree of pressure you use etc......

 

I suspect you will really like the soft fine even if it turns out not to be exactly what you want. And the resale value is there, so until you are sure you do not want to sell it hang on to the paperwork, box, etc..... as that always seems to increase the sale potential.

 

Report back on the soft fine. I want to try one some day, but right now my wallet is a bit dry.

 

 

J

[ptrcao]

Many people like the FA nib. Some have modified the feed to get a little more flow to keep up with their writing style. I just want to make sure anyone reading this does not think I am saying the nib is bad.

 

But I think you will see what I mean when you read over the reviews. There likely is something on Youtube for each of these items.

 

I think a lot depends on how you write: speed, size, paper, print vs cursive, degree of pressure you use etc......

 

I suspect you will really like the soft fine even if it turns out not to be exactly what you want. And the resale value is there, so until you are sure you do not want to sell it hang on to the paperwork, box, etc..... as that always seems to increase the sale potential.

 

Report back on the soft fine. I want to try one some day, but right now my wallet is a bit dry.

 

 

J

Strangely, this one I ordered has a nib which appears as silver - but is actually described as gold 14K, so I assume it is plated with something.

 

I have tried SF before (nib with standard gold appearance), but swapped it in for a SM because I found the SF's lines were too thin on average (it is said that Japanese grades are finer than Western nib grading, so that a staggered correspondence obtains, i.e. Japanese F is actually closer to Western EF, Japanese M closer to Western F, etc. - of the truth I don't know but that stuck from reviews I have read).

 

Ironically, the replacement SM turned out to be produce lines that were thick for my small writing - specifically, line variation was lost as pressing too hard resulted in lines too thick for my small writing, so I would avoid pressing hard and therefore flexing altogether. So now I'm back to SF. I speculate that something between SF and SM would be suitable for me, but this only exists in my imagination.

 

The most notable feature of the Falcon pen nibs (not the FA nib which I haven't tried yet), is a rounded tip. I dislike this, because it tends to make writing appear regularised and consistent like a ballpoint, thus undermining line variation. However, the Falcon (along with Nooder's flex lines) remains the only modern pen that gives line variation at all, and hunting for Vintage pens is too much hard work. I like a mint pen; I do not like the history and wear associated with user grade Vintage pens; and mint Vintage ones are overpriced. I prefer a pen that is my own from the beginning, and the assurance that comes with a new pen, with modern standards of warranty and QC.

 

Now I am itching to try an FA - my wallet is about to take another assault. I've been spending far too much on pens lately on the personal quest to optimise my writing. In particular, I have been experimenting a lot with line variation.

 

I hate how people don't post writing samples, and I'm about to become guilty myself of this neglectful practice, as my computer is too cluttered with activity; I will consider posting a sample later. Or better yet, perhaps start my own blog documenting my journey with fountain pens if I have the time.

[John Cullen]

I think Pilot/Namiki does make a F M nib that is supposed to be between a Fine and Medium. I know Sailor does, but I have not tried theirs. I really want to try a number ten F M Pilot/Namiki nib.

 

There is no end to wallet drain.

 

Here is an ebay ad:

 

 

Manufacture : Pilot

 

Model : Pilot Custom 74

 

Item No : FKK-1000R-B-FM (Black)

 

Penholder : Black Resin body

Nib material : 14kt

 

Nib : Fine Medium (FM) nib

Edited February 14, 2012 by John Cullen

[SamCapote]

Check Leigh's blog with writing samples about the FA nib. I got the 823 custom made for the FA (see about the 10th post by soot) and love it...but it works best in terms of ink flow with Iroshizuku inks.

 

There are more writing videos at the link from soot that goes here:

 

http://www.leighreyes.com/?p=2621

I use Google Translate to get a pretty good idea what's going on.

Edited February 14, 2012 by SamCapote

[raging.dragon]

So the Falcon nib is not compatible with the Falcon pen?

 

Exactly. The Falcon (FA) nibs are available in Japan with the Custom 742 and 743 pens. The 743 nib can be moved to an 823 or 845, while the 742 nib probably fits in several other pilots like the 74 and 92. But neither FA nib fits the Falcon pen which has it's own unique line of nibs.

[kernando]

It's the falcon nib you want, not a Falcon pen. The Falcon model pen and the falcon style nibs are only counter-intuitive if you choose to go and find out about both of them.

[Garageboy]

Lots of confusion here

 

There is the Pilot/Namiki Falcon/Elabo - this is the one sold in the US and is sent to greg minuskin or whoever to make it flexier

 

Then there is the Pilot Custom line (74/742/743)

 

The 74 (No. 5 sized nib) doesn't come in the "pen geek" nibs (no FA nib, which is what you thought you were getting when you got the SF (which is the SOFT nib))

The 742 (No. 10) and 743 (No. 15) do

The 823 also uses the No. 15 nib, but don't think (might have changed) it comes in a FA nib either

[SamCapote]

The 823 also uses the No. 15 nib, but don't think (might have changed) it comes in a FA nib either

 

Unless you order it from the link in my last post. The FA looks and works great.

 

Here is the video of it being used from that website.

[ptrcao]

The 823 also uses the No. 15 nib, but don't think (might have changed) it comes in a FA nib either

 

Can you (anybody) please clarify the situation with the 823 - the thing is I'm leaning towards the Custom 823 because it purportedly has a more generous feed, which mitigates the problem with insufficient ink flow/supply in the other models for the ink-hungry FA nib. Some people have said they have fitted an 823 with an FA nib but from what you say, I'm gathering that the FA isn't officially supported by the 823? Now I want to know if the FA will fit the 823 as-is without further or risky modifications, or side effects such as leakage, since it wasn't apparently designed for the 823?

Edited February 15, 2012 by ptrcao

[SamCapote]

All I can say is the custom 823 I got from that link/store in Japan looks like as professional of an installation as any pen I have. I do not know if that company in Japan has direct connections with Pilot to have them done at the Pilot factory, or if someone else did the work....but when I say this 823 - FA nib is a perfect looking fit and match for this 823, I am not exaggerating. I would never sell or trade this baby. It writes like a dream. I recommend the Iroshizuku inks with it if you are doing a lot of flexing.

[ptrcao]

All I can say is the custom 823 I got from that link/store in Japan looks like as professional of an installation as any pen I have. I do not know if that company in Japan has direct connections with Pilot to have them done at the Pilot factory, or if someone else did the work....but when I say this 823 - FA nib is a perfect looking fit and match for this 823, I am not exaggerating. I would never sell or trade this baby. It writes like a dream. I recommend the Iroshizuku inks with it if you are doing a lot of flexing.

 

Is it true in your experience, that the feed of the C823 has a higher flow rate, that the problems of of inadequate ink supply are reduced relative to the C742/743? Do you experience railroading or line skipping or the frequent need to refill with a fast rate of Western handwriting?

Edited February 15, 2012 by ptrcao

[ptrcao]

The 823 also uses the No. 15 nib, but don't think (might have changed) it comes in a FA nib either

 

Unless you order it from the link in my last post. The FA looks and works great.

 

Here is the video of it being used from that website.

 

31,500.00 JPY = 401.243 USD !!! Does that even include shipping?

[SamCapote]

I am a VERY fast writer (and why I don't have optimal penmanship), and this keeps up just fine, even with a moderate amount of flexing and none of those problems with the 742/3 as Leigh Reyes noted in her blog. I posted these two photos I took, and you can see there was no railroading or skipping. I have not tried a multitude of inks, and MB Racing Green did not do as well as the 3 different Iroshizuku's.

 

http://i61.photobuck...lot823-FA-1.jpg

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Pilot823-FA-2.jpg

 

In terms of the cost, I think you need to add the amount for the 743 with FA selling mostly for $250 + 823 which the transparent model seems to be selling for $280 + Nibmeister putting the FA nib and tuning the 823. I don't know if you can buy the FA nib separately alone. Your call if it's worth it and can afford it.

Edited February 15, 2012 by SamCapote

[studiohead]

I am in China at the moment so I don't have the last year Japanese Pilot Catalogue. From my understanding of the whole situation, the reason why there is confusion is that The "Falcon" Pen is marketed as a pen to the overseas markets with the FA Nib. While in Japan, only a few series of pens come with the FA Nib so there is no such "Falcon" pen in Japan. Trust pilot to inflate prices once the product leaves the country.

[ptrcao]

I am a VERY fast writer (and why I don't have optimal penmanship), and this keeps up just fine, even with a moderate amount of flexing and none of those problems with the 742/3 as Leigh Reyes noted in her blog. I posted these two photos I took, and you can see there was no railroading or skipping. I have not tried a multitude of inks, and MB Racing Green did not do as well as the 3 different Iroshizuku's.

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Pilot823-FA-1.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Pilot823-FA-1.jpg

 

In terms of the cost, I think you need to add the amount for the 743 with FA selling mostly for $250 + 823 which the transparent model seems to be selling for $280 + Nibmeister putting the FA nib and tuning the 823. I don't know if you can buy the FA nib separately alone. Your call if it's worth it and can afford it.

 

Is it just me, or did the same link get posted twice rather than two unique links/photos...?